Stockings have been hung, trees adorned with ornaments, snowmen built on the sparkling snow and now students are anxious to spend time with their families over the holidays. Despite the quickly approaching winter break, Saucon Valley students have been active in donating food, toys and their time to make everyone's spirit brighter during the Holiday season. Along with the piles of snow, mountains of donations have been growing throughout the high school.

The National Honor Society has been collecting non-perishable food items and gift cards to donate to the food drive located at the New Jerusalem Church in Leithsville, Pa. In order to boost the student participation around the school, a competition was created among period four classes. By Dec. 20, the class that earned the highest amount of points was promised the annual "Marcozzi Feast" provided by teacher and NHS adviser Mario Marcozzi. In effort to give the food drive other necessities rather than just canned goods, two points were awarded for each dollar amount in gift cards to grocery stores. A total of over $750 in gift cards and 300 food items were gathered. Barbara Psathas' Senior AP English class won the competition with a total of 765 points in cans and gift cards. They will come back from winter break to rejoice in their well-earned feast as well as the remarkable feeling of providing for so many people in need.

In addition to this successful food drive, National Honor Society members were busy planning, constructing and administering a life-sized game of Candy Land that took place at the Mistletoe Market at Saucon Valley ES. During the course of this event, over 100 children were able to play the enlarged game as they traveled through places such as Peppermint Forest and Gumdrop Mountain to meet real life Queen Frostine, King Kandy and various other characters from the children's board game. The hard work and dedication of these students was transferred into over $1,000 in profit for NHS's Relay for Life team.

Saucon Valley's Music Connection has also contributed to the swarms of donations throughout the high school by overseeing the annual Toys for Tots. In the weeks leading up to the holiday concerts, students were asked to bring in new or slightly used toys that would be given to the Marine Corps to distribute. A box placed in the main lobby was overflowing with over 100 toys for children who may not find as many gifts under their tree on Christmas morning. Band President Jeremy Kuba presented these toys to the Marines during the band and chorus concert Dec. 18.

Saucon Valley students have recognized the true value of giving during this season with everything they have done to support the food drive, American Cancer Society and Toys for Tots Foundation. Be sure to the support the National Honor Society as they continue to host events such as the Blood Drive and Relay for Life to honor the cure and raise funds for the American Cancer Society during the New Year.